Module 14: ch 16- urine system

What are the three main functions of the urinary system?

Excretion (removing waste products from blood), Secretion (producing urine), and Elimination (emptying urine from bladder)

Where are the kidneys located?

One on each side of the vertebral column on the posterior wall of the abdomen

What is the hilum?

The concave border of the kidney with a notch through which the renal artery enters, and the renal vein and renal pelvis of the ureters exit

What are the two layers of the internal kidney?

Cortex (external layer) and Medulla (inner layer that divides into renal pyramids)

What are renal pyramids?

Triangular wedges in the medulla that have bases toward the cortex and empty into cavities called calyces

What are nephrons?

Microscopic units that perform the life-preserving services of the kidney; each kidney has over 1 million nephrons

How much blood do the kidneys filter each minute?

Over 1,000 mL of blood

What is the Bowman's capsule?

The top of the nephron that resembles a funnel

What is the glomerulus?

A cluster of capillaries contained within each Bowman's capsule

What is the proximal convoluted tubule?

A twisted tubule beyond the Bowman's capsule that descends into the medulla

What do the ureters do?

Carry urine from the renal pelvis down into the urinary bladder

What is the urinary bladder?

A collapsible bag of muscular tissue that holds urine until it is time to eliminate it through voiding or urination

How long is the female urethra?

About 1½ inches in length

Where does the female urethra open?

Externally between the clitoris and the vagina within the folds of the labia minora at the urinary meatus

How long is the male urethra?

About 8 inches long

What is the male urethra's dual function?

Carries urine from the bladder and also serves as a passageway for semen

What is dialysis?

The mechanical process of removing waste products from the blood normally removed by the kidneys

What are the two types of dialysis?

Hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis

When is kidney transplant indicated?

In cases of prolonged chronic debilitating disease and renal failure involving both kidneys

What drug has improved kidney transplant survival?

Cyclosporin

What is a routine urine specimen?

Preferably the first of the morning, simply voided into a clean container

What is a clean catch specimen?

A specimen usually for culture purpose, pregnancy determination, or microscopic examination, collected after careful cleaning and caught in midstream

What is a 24-hour urine test?

Collects all urinary output from a specified hour one day until the same hour the next day

What noninvasive procedure detects abnormalities of the kidney?

Ultrasound

What is intravenous pyelography (IVP)?

An invasive procedure where contrast medium is injected into a vein and x-ray films are taken at timed intervals to demonstrate kidney function

What is cystoscopy?

An invasive procedure where a lighted instrument is inserted into the urethra and bladder to view the interior surfaces

What is catheterization?

Passage of a sterile tube into the bladder to remove urine directly from the bladder

What is cystitis?

Inflammation of the bladder that usually results from an ascending organism introduced through the meatus of the urethra

What is acute glomerulonephritis?

Acute or chronic inflammation of the glomerulus of the nephrons

What is incontinence?

The inability to control the flow of urine

What is nephrotic syndrome?

A noninflammatory disease that allows protein molecules to leave the blood and enter the urine, resulting in generalized edema

What is polycystic kidney disease?

An inherited disorder characterized by bilateral, grapelike clusters of fluid-filled cysts that replace normal renal tissue

What is pyelonephritis?

One of the most common kidney infections that causes fever, urgency, dysuria, back pain, burning, nocturia, and hematuria

What are renal calculi?

Kidney stones resulting from chemicals in the urine that form crystals that stick together

What is acute renal failure?

Results in the sudden stopping of kidney function; if treatment is ineffective, can progress to uremia and death

What is chronic renal failure?

The end result of the progressive loss of kidney function

What is a stricture?

Narrowing of a passageway that interferes with the movement of substances through the interior

What is uremia?

Products normally found in the urine are found in the blood; can be the end result of many acute and chronic kidney diseases

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who reports bilateral side pain and dysuria. The assistant should expect an order for which diagnostic procedure?

UA (Urinalysis)

Which diagnostic procedure is NOT noninvasive?

Catheterization

A clean catch specimen is NOT what?

A sterile specimen

What would cause specimen rejection for a routine urinalysis?

Urine specimen temperature is 23°C (73.4°F) - indicating the specimen is too cold/old

What action should a medical assistant take to ensure chain of custody for a urine drug screen?

Seal the specimen collection container in front of the patient

Acute renal failure may result in all the following EXCEPT:

Progressive loss of kidney function (this is chronic renal failure)

UA C&S

This is a medical test using a urine sample to check for urinary tract infections (UTIs). The Urinalysis screens for general infection signs, and the Culture and Sensitivity identifies the specific microbe causing the infection and determines the most effective antibiotics.

Hematuria

blood in the urine